Panthers need a win Sunday night to force a one game playoff for IBL pennant
Posted Jul 31, 2016 11:30:57 AM.
Last Updated Jul 31, 2016 11:37:14 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It’s a big night for the Kitchener Panthers.
They dropped their game Friday night to the London Majors 2-1, which put the Majors into first place and ahead of Kitchener by a half game.
London’s season ended on a impressive win streak of seven straight games and finished with a 27-9 record.
Kitchener has gone 8-2 in their last ten games and have a 26-9 record with one game in hand.
If the Panthers win Sunday night against the Red Sox, that will put London and Kitchener tied for first place. IBL rules indicate that a one-game playoff would have to be played to decide the pennant winner. That game would be played Monday night at Labatt Park in London.
Brantford also have something to play for heading into Sunday’s match up with the second place Panthers.
The Red Sox are currently sitting in fourth and Toronto are nipping at their heels trying to improve their positioning for the playoffs.
If Toronto wins their game against the Barrie Baycats, they would finish with a 20-16 record. A Brantford loss to Kitchener Sunday night would mean both Toronto and Brantford would be tied for fourth place. That would give Toronto home field advantage in the playoffs because they have won the season series against the Red Sox.
Taking a look at potential playoff matchups:
If Kitchener wins Sunday night, they would head to London for a tiebreaker Monday night.
The winner of that tiebreaker will clinch the IBL pennant and claim top spot in the league.
If Kitchener loses Sunday night, London will finish first and claim their first pennant since 2008.
The winner of the tiebreaker will face the Guelph Royals in the first round of the playoffs.
The loser of the tiebreaker will face the Hamilton Cardinals.
Barrie Baycats have finished third place and will face the Burlington Bandits.
If Brantford wins Sunday night against the Panthers they will finish fourth place and clinch home field advantage against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
If Toronto wins and Brantford loses, both teams will be tied with a 20-16 record. Toronto will clinch home field advantage because they won the season series against the Red Sox.
